The Power of Citrus

Photograph by Carin Krasner

5 ways oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit help your health.

Oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit aren’t just refreshing—they’re super-nutritious too. For instance, one medium
orange packs more than 100 percent of the recommended daily dose for vitamin C (and some research suggests organic citrus
packs up to 17 percent more vitamin C than conventional). And here are more health reasons to have a serving of citrus
every day. Eating citrus could…

—Karen Ansel, M.S., R.D. & Lori Longbotham for EatingWell Magazine

Calm a Cold

Loading up on citrus and vitamin C won’t prevent colds, but high doses of C (400 to 500 mg) may shorten the duration and
lessen the symptoms.

Protect Your Heart

Oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes are rich sources of flavonoids. The predominant flavonoid in these
fruits—hesperidin—is credited with boosting “good” HDL cholesterol and lowering “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

Boost Weight Loss

Naturally packed with water and fiber, citrus will help you stay full and satisfied, but grapefruit may have a decided
advantage, according to a 2006 Journal of Medicinal Food study. When researchers put volunteers on an exercise
plan for 12 weeks and asked them to eat either half a fresh grapefruit or drink apple juice and pop a placebo pill before
each meal, the grapefruit group dropped an average of 3½ pounds (compared to just ½ pound for the apple group).

Help You Reduce Sodium

Both citrus and salt enhance flavors, so skip the salt and add a spritz of citrus juice instead to keep dishes lower in
sodium.

Prevent Cancer

Limonoids, a special class of antioxidants in most citrus, may help guard against colon, lung, breast, skin and stomach
cancer.